2 remain to be tried in Hattiesburg police officers' deaths

Hattiesburg American reporter Lici Beveridge breaks down the Joanie Calloway trial. She was found guilty Wednesday of attempted accessory after the fact of capital murder and hindering prosecution in connection to the deaths of two HPD officers.
Lici Beveridge/Hattiesburg American

Clark, the alleged third person in the vehicle pulled over by officer Benjamin J. Deen, was ordered last year to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he is able to stand trial. That report has not yet been returned to the court.

Deen pulled over the vehicle, driven by Joanie Calloway with alleged shooter Marvin Banks in the front passenger seat. Clark was in the back of the vehicle.

Marvin Banks is believed to have shot and killed officers Deen and Liquori Tate during a traffic stop on May 9, 2015, on Fourth Street near Bouie Street.

Dashcam video of the incident shows Clark jumping out of the car after Calloway drove off following the shootings.

Marvin Banks fled in Deen's patrol car. Deen died at the scene, and Tate died later that night at Forrest General Hospital.

Clark is charged with first-degree hindering prosecution.

He is accused of trying to hide physical evidence in the shooting, allegedly disposing of the shirt he was wearing when the officers' shootings occurred to keep from being recognized as police searched for suspects.

Franklin also is charged with first-degree hindering prosecution. He allegedly tried to hide the fact that Banks' brother, Curtis Banks, was hiding in his attic, making it more difficult for police to locate him.

Franklin has been out on $75,000 bond. His case was transferred to the 15th District Circuit Court after it was learned his residence sits in Lamar County. His case is still pending.

On Monday, three people who pleaded guilty to their roles in the two officers' deaths were sentenced in 12th District Circuit Court.

Brodrick Varnado, 27, pleaded guilty in May to accessory after the fact of capital murder and possession of a weapon by a felon.

He was sentenced to 20 years for the accessory charge with 12 to serve and 10 years for possession of a weapon. Those sentences will be served concurrently.

Varnado also received eight years for a probation violation on a previous unrelated conviction.

Varnado allegedly was the person who hid the murder weapon used by Marvin Banks.

(Photo: Submitted photo)

Douglas McPhail and Anquanette Alexander pleaded guilty to conspiracy. McPhail also pleaded guilty to first-degree hindering prosecution. Alexander also was charged with hindering prosecution, but that charge was passed to the inactive files.

McPhail was sentenced to five years for each count, with two to serve under house arrest. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

Alexander was sentenced to five years of probation. Her conviction will be non-adjudicated, which means it will be removed from her record, if she is not charged with any other crime in those five years.

(Photo: Submitted photo)

McPhail was accused of conspiring with Alexander to hide or dispose of physical evidence, allegedly the shirt worn by Marvin Banks when the officers were shot.

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Marvin Banks, 29, of Hattiesburg (held without bond) Charges: two counts of capital murder, grand larceny, possession of a weapon by a felon. Died December 2015 of apparent heart attack while in Forrest County Jail.
Submitted photo